Diffuser reunites in Wantagh to support autism causes

The Long Island band Diffuser is set to rock out for a show in Wantagh that will help raise money and awareness for the local autistic community.

The event, which will take place at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall on Sept. 7, will reunite the band’s four original members for a show celebrating the 25th anniversary of their debut album, “Injury Loves Melody.” Diffuser was formed in 1994 on Long Island by singer Tomas Costanza, guitarist Anthony Cangelosi, bassist Lawrence Sullivan, and drummer Billy Alemaghides. According to Costanza, the hard rock group’s original members haven’t played in almost 23 years, and he hopes the event will raise a lot of money to help increase awareness in the autism community.

“We all want people to know that it’s very important to be aware of anyone on the spectrum,” Costanza said.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit two Long Island charities, including Families for Inclusion, a nonprofit based in Merrick whose mission is to teach young children in elementary schools about autism, so they can better understand children with developmental disabilities. The organization’s founder, Gina DeGregorio-Sonbert, said the concert would help inform people about autism.

“We’re very excited for the event,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said. “I think it’s going to be a great way to raise some more awareness and acceptance for autism.”

DeGregorio-Sonbert founded the organization in 2021 after her 8-year-old son, Teddy, was diagnosed with autism, which includes being non-verbal and requiring constant adult supervision. After her son’s diagnosis DeGregorio-Sonbert met another parent of a child with autism, who told her, “I’m not worried about my son, I’m worried about the rest of the world not understanding him.”

Those words stuck with DeGregorio-Sonbert, and she started to attend her older son’s preschool class to teach young kids about autism.

“My initial goal was so that when Teddy got to those grades, kids would understand what (autism) is and know what they were seeing when they saw him,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said.

Word of mouth spread about her teachings, and soon other educators reached out, asking her to inform students in their classrooms about autism, which prompted her to create the nonprofit. According to DeGregorio-Sonbert, the education focuses on preschool, kindergarten and elementary schools from the first to the third grade.  

“Those are the kids who know nothing about it,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said. “Those are the kids who, if they learn about it now, will take that knowledge throughout their whole lives and never be nervous when they see someone with autism and never be unkind when they see someone with autism.”

DeGregorio-Sonbert, who has known Costanza for 25 years, said her husband, Michael, told the singer about Teddy and his autism. Costanza said the conversation “opened his eyes” to autism and decided that the reunion show would also be a fundraiser for the Long Island autism community.

The other charity benefiting from the concert, The Nicholas Center, is a nonprofit based in Port Washington whose mission is to create innovative programs and services that allow individuals with autism to learn, live and work in the community. The center’s co-founder, Stella Spanakos, was Costanza’s teacher when he attended Plainedge High School in the late 1980s. Spanakos said she is “beyond proud” of Costanza for his efforts in helping to raise awareness for the autism community.

“The concert is going to be so amazing,” Spanakos said. “This is what it’s all about.”

The reunion concert will be the inaugural event for Rock the Spectrum, concert fundraisers that will benefit both Families for Inclusion and The Nicholas Center. Costanza said he hopes it continues as an annual event, bringing in other Long Island bands in the future. He added that it means a lot to use his platform as a musician to help raise awareness for autism, especially where he grew up.

“It’s so gratifying, because it just gives the show so much more importance,” Costanza said.

DeGregorio-Sonbert said people with autism just want to be themselves and not have to shy away from their disability.

“We’re all different,” DeGregorio-Sonbert said, “and it’s upsetting when people with autism have to hide who they are.”

Diffuser’s 25^th anniversary reunion show is sponsored by WBAB-FM, Waldner’s Business Environments, and M&A Electrical. Comedian Graham Kay will host the event, and there will be a live auction by John Theissen, founder and executive director of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit that helps sick and underprivileged children through donations and fundraisers.

Mulcahy’s is located at 3232 Railroad Ave. in Wantagh. Doors open at 7 p.m.

For more information about the concert, visit rockthespectrum.show.